The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-14

The English and Americans agree
with the ancients in according high
rank to field sports. The hunting OF
savage animals was the highest branch,
for not only skill and courage were
necessary, but great presence of mind
as well. But it has been left to the
moderns to most thoroughly appreciate
field sports. One reason is they are
better qualified to admire the successful
adaptation of a means to an end; and.
secondly, because from their prosperous
condition they are not to any extent
dependent upon the game they kill.
The forest music is to hear the hounds
Rend the thin air, and with lusty cry
Awake the drowSy echoes and confound
Their perfect language in mingled sound
Homer gives a most graphic descrip-
ton of an archery match, sort OF
"Old Hats pigeon-match, between
two crack shots, Experienced Merton
and skillful Tencer," the Osbaldistone
and Horace Ross, the DR.. Carver and
Buffalo Bill'' of this day. The target
was milk-white dove, tied by cord
to the top of a first-rate gallery. The
prizes were ten double-edged war
axes to whoever killed the bird,
and ten single axes to the one who
should divide the cord. The COM
petitors drew lots and Tencer got
the first shot, dividing the cord with
single arrow. Merton then took aim
and bagged the bird on the wing.
There being no reporters for the daily
press present at this remarkable match,
we shall be compelled to take Homer
word, unsupported, for the accuracy of
the statement.
In ancient times the bow, of course,
was the chief implement of war and the
chase, and by the expertness of the bold
arches has often decided the fate of bat
ties and of empires. To an improve
ment of the weapon termed the cross
bow our hardy forefathers were princi-
pally indebted for their famous victories
at Agincourt, Cressy and Poltiers.
Hence the English archers became the
most renowned in all Europe. Previous
to the invention of firearms and gun
powder the bow formed the almost uni
versal weapon in the forest and in the
field. 1t appears that the cross-bow
was introduced in England by William
the Conqueror. An act made in the
fifth year of the reign of Edward ".
directs that every Englishman have a
bow of his own height, of yew, ash,
hazel, or auburn; that butts shall be
made in every township, which the in
habitants are to shoot at every feast
day under the penalty of half-penny
when they shall omit this exercise.
Several other statutes were made in
succeeding reigns for the promotion of
archery; and in the eighth year of
Charles |. commission was issued by
the King to the Chancellor, Lord Mayor
and several of the Privy Council, to
prevent the fields near London being
inclosed, $50 as to interrupt the neces-
sary and profitable exercise of shoot
ing" and also to lower the mounds
where they prevented the view from
one to another In 1853 targets were
erected in the Finsbury fields during
Easter and Whitsun holidays, when the
best shooter was made captain and the
second best lieutenant
Dogs were used in the chase as far
back as we have any records of field
sports. In qnaint volume printed in
1860 is found curious account of the
varieties of British dogs that are to be
met with in England. They are emu
merated as follows: The ''terrare,
harier, bludhunde, gasehunde, gre
hunde, ledire or lyemmer, tumbler,
spaniel, setter, water spaniel or fynder,
shepherds dog, massive or band dog,
turne spit, Ounce" The terrare is
probably the progenitor of our terrier.
1t is described as small kind of hound
used to force the fox and other animals
out of their holes. The harier was used
for hunting the hare. The bludhunde
or sluthhund was of great use and held
in high esteem among our ancestors.
1t was remarkable then as now for its
acuteness of scent, tracing any wounded
large game that had escaped the hunter,
and following the trail of the marauder,
no matter how great the distance. 1t
was of great service on the borders of
Scotland and England VIXEN the raids
of outlaws upon the herds and tlocks
were frequent and disastrous. They
were also used by Wallace and Bruce
during the civl wars.
The gasehotnd was very quick and
intelligent. It was able TO select from
the herd the latest and finest deer,
pursue it closely, and if lost for time
recover it and again pick it out from
the herd which it had rejoincd. This
species is now unknown. The gre
hund was the first in rank among dogs,